On October 15, 2025, a simmering dispute between the world’s two largest economies took to the skies, as China’s biggest state-owned airlines launched a formal protest against a new U.S. proposal that could reshape transpacific travel. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is considering a ban that would prevent Chinese carriers from flying over Russian airspace on routes to and from the United States—a move that’s already stoking tensions and could soon impact thousands of travelers.
The roots of the controversy stretch back to 2022, when Moscow, in retaliation for Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, closed Russian airspace to U.S. and most European airlines. This decision forced American and European carriers to take longer, more expensive routes for flights to East Asia, while Chinese airlines continued to traverse Russian skies unimpeded. According to the Associated Press, this has given Chinese carriers a significant cost advantage, as their flights are shorter and require less fuel, allowing them to offer more competitive fares.
Among the Chinese airlines pushing back are Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern—three of the country’s aviation giants. These companies, joined by three other major Chinese carriers, have filed formal complaints with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Their message is clear: the proposed ban would harm public interest, inconvenience travelers from both China and the U.S., and drive up costs for everyone involved.
In its filing, China Eastern warned that the additional flight time required by the ban would result in higher costs and elevated airfares, increasing the burden on all travelers. “The proposed ban would harm the public interest and inconvenience travelers from both China and the U.S.,” the airline stated, emphasizing the ripple effect on consumers. China Southern echoed these concerns, cautioning that thousands of travelers would be adversely affected if the ban is implemented. Air China put a number on it, estimating that at least 4,400 passengers could face disruptions during peak travel seasons such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t mince words either. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun described the U.S. proposal as “punishing” for passengers worldwide, underscoring the global implications of the dispute. “The move would be punishing passengers around the world,” Guo said, as quoted by AP.
What’s driving the U.S. side? The Department of Transportation argues that allowing Chinese airlines to use Russian airspace gives them an unfair advantage over American carriers, who have to take longer routes. According to the DOT’s proposed order, “Being able to use the most efficient route provides a competitive advantage because it usually results in the shortest flight time duration, thereby offering a more appealing option to travelers.” U.S. airlines, unable to fly over Russia, have seen some routes between China and the U.S. lengthened by two to three hours—a costly setback in an industry where efficiency is everything.
David Yu, an aviation expert at New York University Shanghai, explained the stakes in plain terms. “The U.S.-China route historically has been a money-maker for airlines on both sides,” Yu told AP. “From the Chinese carriers’ perspective, if you can go through Russia, your costs go down.” Longer journeys, Yu noted, require more fuel and eat into profitability—something no airline takes lightly, especially as the industry continues to recover from the financial blows of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DOT’s proposal has also caught the attention of European airlines, who face similar restrictions. Air France-KLM and other European carriers have filed their own complaints, arguing that they too are disadvantaged by Russia’s airspace closure. United Airlines, one of the largest U.S. carriers, has gone a step further, urging the DOT to include Hong Kong’s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, in the ban—even though Cathay Pacific isn’t among the Chinese carriers named in the original proposal.
The competitive landscape is complex. Chinese airlines argue that flying over Russia isn’t about gaining an unfair edge, but about maintaining efficiency and keeping costs manageable for passengers. “Flights over Russian airspace make journeys shorter and more efficient,” Chinese companies stressed in their filings. They warn that a ban could force them onto longer, pricier routes, which would inevitably lead to higher ticket prices and greater inconvenience for travelers on both sides of the Pacific.
For travelers, the stakes are far from abstract. If the U.S. implements the ban, flights between China and the United States could become longer, more expensive, and less convenient—especially during busy periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the summer holidays. Airlines warn that thousands of passengers may experience delays, higher fares, and greater frustration. As China Southern pointed out in its filing, “thousands of travelers would be adversely affected.” Air China’s estimate of 4,400 disrupted passengers during the holiday season alone paints a vivid picture of what’s at stake.
Despite the outcry, the DOT insists that the issue is about restoring fairness to the market. “Chinese carriers’ ability to cross Russian airspace has caused competitive imbalances between American and Chinese airlines,” the department stated. The agency is currently collecting public comments and has promised to consider all viewpoints before making a final decision.
The broader context is hard to ignore. The U.S.-China aviation market is one of the most lucrative in the world, historically generating strong profits for both sides. Yet, as David Yu observed, Chinese carriers have faced significant financial challenges in recent years, particularly since the pandemic. For them, the ability to fly over Russia is a rare advantage in a tough global market—one they’re not eager to surrender without a fight.
European airlines are watching closely, as they too are grappling with longer, costlier flights. United Airlines’ suggestion to include Cathay Pacific in the ban reflects a desire to level the playing field across the board, not just between American and Chinese carriers. The debate, then, is as much about principle as it is about profit.
With the U.S. Department of Transportation still reviewing public comments, the future of transpacific air travel hangs in the balance. For now, passengers, airlines, and governments alike are bracing for a decision that could reshape the way people fly between East and West—one flight path at a time.